30 de jun de 2011

30 June 2011 Last updated at 16:27 GMT Share this pageEmail Print Share this page

Legionella bug found at Silksworth ski slope The complex is being closed as "a precaution"Sunderland's dry ski slope has been temporarily closed after the discovery of the legionella bug.It was among higher than normal levels of bacteria found at the Silksworth Sports Complex during routine monitoring of its water system.The bug can lead to Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.Sunderland Council said the complex was being closed as a precaution and would reopen after remedial work.It said in a statement: "Legionella bacteria are widely found in natural water sources, ponds, lakes etc and it is not unusual to find low levels in the water systems of buildings, particularly older buildings."Routine tests recently carried out at Silksworth Ski Complex showed an increase above accepted levels of bacteria including Legionella."The complex has been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, and will reopen as soon as remedial work to restore the water supply to its normal levels is complete."

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that although no worker contracted any illness, the health of staff could have been put at risk.

The firm had employed Tamworth based Aegis Ltd to clean and maintain its three cooling towers but the work they carried out was not done to a high standard.

Aegis Ltd had been contracted to provide water treatment services but had failed significantly in their duties.

There was no comprehensive and up-to-date risk assessment and neither company had taken reasonable steps to control the potential spread of Legionella.

Aegis Ltd were found guilty after a trial in front of Judge Walsh in May and they were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs totalling £80,000.

After the case, HSE inspector Paul Billinger said: "It is vital that companies who used water cooling treatment as part of their manufacturing processess have plans in place to ensure the level of Legionella bacteria in their systems does not become unsafe.

"Legionnaire’s disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anyone coming into contact with it. Neither Eaton Ltd or Aegis Ltd which was specifically contracted to manage the water system, took the Legionella risk seriously.

"They failed to deal with their own risk assessment and service agreement in respect of cleaning the system. These were persistent and systematic failures which put the health of people at risk."

Legionnaire's disease is caused by bacteria found naturally in rivers, lakes and reservoirs but it can multiply and become extremely dangerous in some purpose-built water systems.

25 de jun de 2011

A proposed standard practice that specifies requirements to prevent legionellosis associated with building water systems is currently open for public review from ASHRAE. The ASHRAE Standard 188P, Prevention of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, is intended to address the “what” of controlling the spread of legionellosis. The standard helps facility managers/owners understand how to apply the available information on Legionella effectively in order to prevent cases of legionellosis associated with building water systems.

The bacterium Legionella can lead to a very serious form of pneumonia, referred to as Legionnaires’ disease, or Pontiac fever, which is a less severe form of the disease. There are many thousands of cases every year in the U.S. Essentially all cases of legionellosis are the result of exposure to Legionella associated with building water systems.

“We know how to analyze and control this hazard,” Bill McCoy, chair of the Standard 188P committee, said. “We need a standardized practice to specify for facility managers/owners exactly what to do in their facilities to control the hazard in a systematic and scientifically defensible way.”

23 de jun de 2011

3 cases of Legionella at MetroHealth HospitalPosted: Jun 23, 2011 12:59 PM Updated: Jun 23, 2011 12:59 PM CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - MetroHealth Hospital officials have confirmed three recent cases of legionella occurring in patients who were residents at the Elizabeth Severance Prentiss Center for Skilled Nursing. These patients were transferred to the main hospital for treatment; two have since been released.

MetroHealth immediately implemented precautionary measures, including switching to bottled water, suspending showers for residents, and sterilization of the building. The water supply will be sterilized using a chlorination method followed by installation of a system to insure that the legionella will remain under control.

Legionella is a bacteria that lives in the water supply. People get exposed to it through drinking or showering with this water. It is also transmitted through air conditioning units or other means of aerosolizing water. It is not transmitted from person to person.

Legionella causes a mild form of infection called Pontiac fever which includes headache, fever, and muscle aches. In the more severe form, patients develop pneumonia with high fever, chills, and cough. Legionella is generally treated with common antibiotics.

16 de jun de 2011

June 8, 2011Nestlé has been named the winner of the Stockholm Industry Water Award for its leadership and performance to improve water management in its internal operations and throughout its supply chain. The Award Committee also recognised Nestlé's work to improve the water management of its suppliers, which includes over 25 million people who are involved in its entire value chain. Nestlé employs 1,000 agronomists and water experts, who work directly with farmers to help them reduce their water requirements, increase crop yields, and minimise pollution. In 2009-2010, Nestlé provided expert training and technical support for 300,000 farmers and the company continues to collaborate with other food industry leaders to establish best practice and guidelines for sustainable water use at a farm level. Nestlé also has a leading role in the 2030 Water Resources Group. Award Committee Member and Director of Water Projects at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Joppe Cramwinckel, said: "Through its unwavering commitment, Nestlé has established itself as a leader in smart water management and is deserving of this prestigious award. It is providing an example for other food producers and distributors to follow. With agriculture accounting for nearly 70% of global water use, and food demand expected to double by 2050, companies have an increasing responsibility to improve food chain resource efficiency." The honourary award will be presented to the chairman of Nestlé SA, P. Brabeck-Letmathe, at a ceremony on August 24 during the 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm. When receiving the news, he said: "I am most grateful for this recognition. We have identified water as the biggest challenge for future food security, and beyond that, for economic growth. This is probably the most prestigious award in this area for a company – and it will be a strong encouragement for us to continue with our efforts." Nestlé is the largest food and nutrition company in the world, employing around 280 000 people in over 100 countries. Over the past decade, Nestlé has reduced the total water withdrawals by over 30 percent, more than doubled the water efficiency of their internal operations and made significant reductions in the quantity of wastewater discharged into the environment.

Published on Monday 13 June 2011 11:19FOLLOWING a turbulent week at the Warwick IBM site, which was the centre of a Legionella scare, the water is now free from the bacteria.From Thursday June 3 through to Wednesday June 8 all but the spine staff at the site were told to stay at home after traces of the dangerous Legionella bacteria, which can lead to Legionnaire’s Disease, were found in the water.After a week of tests and collaboration with environmental health experts staff were allowed back on to the site.An IBM spokesman said today: “The landlord and managing agents for the Warwick site have completed the remedial actions needed to the water supply system.“We have received confirmation from Warwick District Council Environmental Health Department that the location is able to re open fully. Client service throughout has been uninterrupted.”It is still not known how or why the bacteria came to get to dangerous levels in the water, although nobody is believed to have become infected.

10 de jun de 2011

AUSTRALIANS are being warned about travelling in Bali after a number of recent cases of Legionnaires disease. The new alert comes after a number of Australian’s were diagnosed with the disease after travelling to Bali before August last year.The SmartTraveller website has tonight issued the alert and warned: Australian health authorities have detected a small number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella pneumophila) amongst travellers recently returned from the Kuta region of Bali.The Indonesian Environmental Health Department is investigating, but Australians in Bali and those who have recently returned are advised to monitor themselves for flu-like symptoms including fever and coughs.If they do suffer these symptoms they are advised to visit their doctor or a hospital emergency department and advise them of travelling to Bali.The potentially lethal form of pneumonia is brought on be the Legionella bacteria and is often linked to air-conditioning systems.It is usually transferred in water droplets in the air coming from air-conditioners, spas and misting sprays.In January this year Victoria’s Chief Health Officer released an alert after four Victorian’s were diagnosed.

6 de jun de 2011

Staff at computer giant IBM have remained at home after traces of legionella were discovered last week.

Workers went home on Thursday after traces of the bacterium, which can lead to Legionnaires' disease, were found at IBM's Opus 40 site in Warwick.

The decontamination process began on Friday when tests took place and the results may be known by the end of this week, Warwick District Council said.

There have been no reports of illness after bacteria was found in water.

Staff would not be returning to the site until the system has been fully decontaminated, the council said.

A spokeswoman added when there is confirmation of decontamination, a council team would go in and carry out tests.

A spokesman for IBM said: "In accordance with guidance from local environmental health authorities, IBM has temporarily reduced staffing levels at its Warwick site.

"Client service remains unaffected. Remedial actions in place are being undertaken by the site landlord and the managing agents."

In a statement, the council has said the environmental health department would continue to liaise with companies involved, and with other public health agencies, "to ensure that effective remedial measures are implemented".

3 de jun de 2011

Jun 1 2011 by Euan McLelland, Wishaw PressA WISHAW Sports Centre user slammed conditions inside its health suite as “disgusting” only two months ago.Now the Legionella bug has been found in a different part of the facility, forcing leisure bosses to close the doors to the public last week.Photographs submitted to the Wishaw Press by one concerned gym member had previously shown dirty shower heads, exposed electrical cables and a jacuzzi full of sludge, all taken in one visit to the centre.In slating the cleanliness of the facilities inside Wishaw’s premier sports venue, the same disgruntled whistleblower even talked about a lesson in the dangers of Legionnaires’ Disease given to him by a member of the centre’s staff.The man told the Wishaw Press: “The standards of general cleanliness and housekeeping at the facility are appalling. A lot of members – who pay a substantial amount of money each month to use the place – are extremely unhappy.“There are missing and broken ceiling tiles, exposed cables and filthy vents.“In addition, the shower head I photographed is disgusting. Who would want to stand under that? Goodness knows what would be raining down on you.“In fact, when I was speaking to a member of staff once about hygiene he lectured me on the importance of cleanliness and the dangers of Legionnaires’ Disease! Talk about irony – you couldn’t make it up.”The discovery of Legionella – in the dry area changing facilities away from the health suite – is now the latest health shock for the centre, a host venue for this year’s International Children’s Games.A year ago, members were left hot under the collar after the air conditioning broke and was out of use for a number of weeks.

2 June 2011 Last updated at 13:55 GMTStaff at a Warwickshire IT company have been sent home over concerns that its water supply is contaminated.

Traces of legionella bacteria, which can lead to Legionnaire's disease, have been found at IBM's Opus 40 site in Birmingham Road, Warwick.A spokeswoman for Warwick District Council said so far there were no reports of anyone being ill.She added samples were currently being tested to establish the levels of legionella bacteria at the site.A site manager reported the discovery on Wednesday and all staff were sent home on Thursday morning as a precaution.Legionnaires' disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacterium.A spokesman for the council's environmental health team said legionella bacteria were common and can be found naturally in environmental water sources and any water supply.

Naperville, IL - ASHRAE Standard 188P - Prevention of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems was unanimously approved for public review and publication in June 2010. The first public review of Standard 188P was completed in November 2010; there were many supportive comments from industry groups, professional people and from the general public. Already in response to this successful public review, major healthcare organizations have started to comply with the specifications in ASHRAE Standard 188P because final approval and publication is very likely and because the specifications are so practical and effective. The Standard specifies exactly what is required in order to prevent legionellosis associated with building water systems.

It has been estimated that the number of buildings in the United States covered by Standard 188P is 5 million buildings and that the cost to implement the Standard is at least several billion dollars. For Standards of this magnitude and scope, two and even more public reviews are often necessary. The second 45-day public review is expected to begin in 2Q 2011. The goal at ASHRAE is to complete the next 45-day public review, respond to all comments and move the Standard to publication before the end of 2011.

Other cost estimates associated with legionellosis in the US have been recently published: The CDC estimates that the average direct healthcare cost of each legionellosis case in the US is about $34,000 and hospitalization costs alone are several hundred million dollars annually. For every dollar of direct healthcare costs, about $12 are lost due to missed work, lower productivity, disability payments and associated costs. Therefore, the annual overall dollar cost to the US economy of the estimated 18,000 cases of legionellosis in the US is at least several billion dollars. Of course, dollar costs are but a fraction of the total real losses which can only be measured in terms of human suffering.

Phigenics is a water management company that partners with facility owners and suppliers to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and overall safety of all water systems.